Creation of a participative sound device from sound recordings made in a neighborhood to create an identity
Directed with Clémence, Maël and Thomas
From sounds collected from the Strasbourg train station district, we have produced a sound device intended for its inhabitants. After using it, they must create visual compositions that will be reinvested to establish the identity of the neighborhood.
Active field observation
First, we immersed ourselves in the neighborhood. We were there several times, at different times. We gathered various elements making sketches, photographs and sound recordings.
Photographs and sketches of the neighborhood
Example of sound recordings
The work of sounds
We then had to rework the sounds collected to reinvest them via our device. We looked for a way to classify them by reflecting on what characterizes a sound. We decided to categorize them according to their punctual or regular rhythm and their content, streetcar bells, rolling of suitcases, children’s words, train announcement, etc.
Our 11 final sounds
The sound system
Evolution of our ideas
Prototype and experiments
Creation of our final device Link to the user manual
Our device is presented as a musical instrument based on interaction with its user. The Arduino board it requires, the conductive bar, are equipped with microcontrollers. When they detect a contact, they activate a programmed function. Composed of 12 terminals, we have affiliated this card to trigger the touch of 11 sounds. Our last function is a “reset” action which silences all sounds.
For the switch system to work, a program had to be created on OpenProcessing, so that the sounds could be operated independently and looped. So we affiliated Keyboard mode with our Arduino board so that it can read the code. This is linked to a visual that lets the user know what sound it has triggered.
To activate a sound, the user must therefore press the keys. Combining several sounds, he creates his symphony. Once this is done, he uses buffers, made of linoleum, machined with a digital milling machine, connected to the chosen keys. With them, he creates his own visual composition from three colors, on paper support on an A5 format.
In situ test
We tested this device in two places in the neighborhood: one morning we were in Copalim, an associative grocery store where users (members and volunteers) come to do their shopping and an afternoon in a neighborhood bar called the Troc’café.
In situ tests
Neighborhood identity
These two tests allowed us to collect 30 visual compositions. We used them to create an identity of the neighborhood, through typographic research, logos, GIF, patterns and posters.
Typographic and poster searches
Pattern searches
Video